Culture Beat

Culture Beat
Background information
Origin	Germany
Genres	House Eurodance Hi-NRG
Years active	1989–present
Associated acts	Quadriga
Members
Frank Fenslau Peter Gräber Jacky Sangster
Past members
Lana Earl (1989-1993) Torsten Fenslau (1989-1993) Jay Supreme (1989-1997) Tania Evans (1993-1997) Kim Sanders (1998-1999) Jens Zimmermann (1989-1991) Peter Zweier (1989-1994)

Culture Beat is a German Eurodance project formed in 1989 by Torsten Fenslau. The act has gone through a number of line-up changes over the years; they achieved the most success whilst fronted by singer Tania Evans and rapper Jay Supreme. Their 1993 single "Mr. Vain" was a No. 1 hit in 11 European countries,^[1] and the act is thought to have sold more than 10 million records worldwide.^[2]

Biography

Torsten Fenslau, who initially had a desire for becoming an architect, had been working as a deejay at the Frankfurt nightclub Dorian Gray for the past 11 years, when he decided to form Culture Beat.^[1] His first single, the ambient house track "Der Erdbeermund", with a spoken vocal in German by Jo van Nelsen, peaked at No.11 in the German singles chart.^[3] Versions in English and French were also released (titled "Cherry Lips" and "Les lèvres cerises", respectively). An instrumental version was also a club hit in the United Kingdom, where it reached No.55.

Shortly afterwards, Torsten recruited New Jersey-born rapper Jay Supreme and singer Lana Earl to front the act, Culture Beat. While the second single "I Like You" reached No.22 in the Netherlands, their fourth single "No Deeper Meaning" managed to reach as high as No.5 in the Netherlands.^[4] They released their first album, Horizon, in 1991 which went with only minor success.

Lana was replaced by British singer Tania Evans in 1993, and the act took a harder Eurodance sound. "Mr. Vain" became their biggest hit to date, reaching No.1 in 13 countries including Germany, Australia and the United Kingdom.^[5] It was also their first mainstream hit in the United States, peaking at No.17 on the Hot 100. The single was certified three times Gold in Germany for selling over 750,000 units, it also managed to reach a Gold status in several other countries including US.^[6][7]

Subsequent singles "Got to Get It" and "Anything" were also pan-European hits, and their second album Serenity was awarded at the ECHO award for being the Best-selling German Act Abroad, with more than two million copies sold.^[8] This also got Torsten Fenslau nominated in the same year at the Echo for being the Best Producer of the Year, who also walked away as a winner.^[9]

On November 6, 1993, Culture Beat's founder Torsten Fenslau was killed in a car accident in Messel (district of Darmstadt) at age of 29.^[1][5] His brother Frank took over the act as a manager and returned the act in 1995 with a third album called Inside Out,^[5] preceded by a single of the same title "Inside Out" which reached No.5 in Germany and No.32 in the UK.

In 1997, Frank decided to take Culture Beat in a different musical direction diverging the act from Dance genre and transitioned into Pop. He also replaced Tania with Kim Sanders, who had previously scored a hit with "Impossible" by Captain Hollywood Project. Jay Supreme remained with the act for a short time after Tania's departure, but during recording of the next album he decided to leave the group and the Rap-vocals on the next album (only a few tracks contained Rap) were produced by rapper Next Up. Although, in 1998, the album Metamorphosis managed to reach No.12 at home, it was a minor chart success as it remained in the top-20 of the album chart for only four weeks, and spent overall 10 weeks appearing on the chart.^[10]

Three years later, Jacky Sangster replaced Kim as the fourth female lead singer for Culture Beat. The single called "Insanity" was released in 2001 which flopped in Germany; however, reached No. 1 in Israel.^[5] In 2003, to commemorate ten years since the release of the group's biggest hit, a new version of "Mr. Vain" was issued in Germany and reached No.7 in the singles chart. In 2004, a Greatest Hits package was released ahead of a planned new album with Jacky as vocalist, but was canceled before "Can't Go on Like This (No No)" was released. This single had minor success as well.

In May 2008, a new single, "Your Love" was finally released in Germany through Superstar Records, a special remix by D&K only available digitally. Jacky performed at the "Back 2 the 90s" event in Riga, Latvia on November 21, 2008, alongside Ace of Base, Haddaway, Dr Alban and 2 Unlimited.^[11]

Band members

• Torsten Fenslau - Keyboards & programming (1989–1993)
• Lana Earl - Vocals (1989–1993)
• Juergen Katzmann - Guitars, keyboards & programming (1989–1995)
• Jay Supreme - Vocals (1989–1998)
• Jens Zimmermann - Keyboards & programming (1989–1995)
• Peter Zweier - Keyboards & programming (1989-)
• Tania Evans - Vocals (1993–1997)
• Frank Fenslau - Keyboards & programming (1994-)
• Kim Sanders - Vocals (1998–1999)
• Jacky Sangster - Vocals (2001-)

Discography

Studio albums

Year	Album details	Peak chart positions									Certifications	Sales Based on Sales and/or Certifications
		GER [12]	AUS [13]	AUT [14]	FIN [15]	NL [16]	NOR [17]	SWE [18]	SWI [19]	UK [20]
1991	Horizon Released: March 8, 1991 Label: Epic Formats: CD, Cassette, Vinyl	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—
1993	Serenity Released: June 2, 1993 Label: Dance Pool Formats: CD, Cassette, Vinyl	8	5	7	—	12	10	4	8	13	GER: Gold[6] AUT: Gold[21] FRA: Gold[22] NETH: Gold[23] FIN: Gold[24] SWE: Gold[25] SWI: Gold[26] UK: Gold[27]	GER: 400,000+[1] AUT: 25,000+ FRA: 100,000+ NETH: 50,000+ FIN: 25,000 SWE: 50,000+ SWI: 25,000+ UK: 100,000+
1995	Inside Out Released: November 3, 1995 Label: Dance Pool Formats: CD, Cassette, Vinyl	22	—	34	33	91	—	—	27	—
1998	Metamorphosis Released: June 19, 1998 Label: Columbia Formats: CD, Cassette, Vinyl	12	—	—	—	—	—	—	37	—
"—" denotes releases that did not chart or were not released.

Singles

Year	Title	Peak chart positions										Certifications (sales thresholds)	Album
		GER [28]	AUS [29]	AUT [30]	FRA [31]	NETH [4]	NOR [32]	SWE [33]	SWI [34]	UK [20]	US [35]
1989	""Der Erdbeermund""	11	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	55	—		Horizon
1990	"I Like You"	30	—	—	—	22	—	—	—	—	—
1991	"Tell Me That You'll Wait"	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—
	"No Deeper Meaning"	—	—	—	—	5	—	—	—	—	—
1993	"Mr. Vain"	1	1	1	3	1	1	2	1	1	17	GER: 3x Gold[6] AUT: Gold[21] FRA: Silver[36] NETH: Gold[37] NOR: Platinum[38] SWE: Gold[25] UK: Silver[27] US: Gold[7]	Serenity
	"Mr. Vain (Remix)"	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	10	—	—
	"Got to Get It"	4	7	7	10	2	6	5	7	4	—	GER: Gold[6]
	"Anything"	4	12	3	4	6	—	15	7	5	—	GER: Gold[6]
1994	"World in Your Hands"	18	—	20	42	13	—	—	29	20	—
	"Adelante"	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—
1995	"Inside Out"	5	—	10	46	30	—	23	11	32	—	GER: Gold[6]	Inside Out
1996	"Crying in the Rain"	8	—	14	—	45	—	23	16	29	—
	"Take Me Away"	26	—	39	—	48	—	24	33	52	—
	"Walk the Same Line"	64	—	38	—	—	—	40	—	—	—
1998	"Pay No Mind"	27	—	37	—	—	—	—	—	—	—		Metamorphosis
	"Rendez-Vous"	53	—	38	88	—	—	48	—	—	—
	"You Belong"	77	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—
2001	"Insanity"	66	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—		Non-album release
2003	""Mr. Vain Recall" "	7	—	8	—	66	—	30	46	51	—
2004	"Can't Go on Like This (No No)"	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—
2008	""Your Love""	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—
"—" denotes releases that did not chart

See also

• List of number-one dance hits (United States)
• List of artists who reached number one on the US Dance chart
• Snap!
• 2 Unlimited

References

1. ^ ^{a b c d} Echoes Honor Torsten Fenslau. Billboard Magazine. 1994-03-26. http://books.google.com/books?id=NQgEAAAAMBAJ&pg=PA60&dq=Culture+BEat#v=onepage&q=Culture%20BEat&f=false. Retrieved 2010-08-14. 
2. ^ Culture Beat - Official Website
3. ^ "Top 100 Official Single Media Control (1990-01-15)". Charts.de. 1990-01-15. http://www.charts.de/charts.asp?cat=s&country=de&year=1990&date=19900115&x=26&y=10. Retrieved 2010-08-14. 
4. ^ ^{a b} "Holland's singles-positions to Culture Beat". Hung Medien. http://www.dutchcharts.nl/search.asp?cat=s&artist=Culture+Beat&artist_search=starts&title=&title_search=starts. Retrieved 2010-08-14. 
5. ^ ^{a b c d} "Culture Beat mit ihrem Hammer-Hit Mr.Vain" (in German). P2Music. http://p2news.com/musik/culture-beat-mit-ihrem-hammer-hit-mrvain. 
6. ^ ^{a b c d e f} "German certifications – Culture Beat" (in German). Bundesverband Musikindustrie. http://www.musikindustrie.de/gold_platin_datenbank/?action=suche&strTitel=&strInterpret=Culture+Beat&strTtArt=alle&strAwards=checked. Retrieved 2011-06-09. 
7. ^ ^{a b} "Gold and Platinum search results: Culture Beat". RIAA. http://www.riaa.com/goldandplatinumdata.php?resultpage=1&table=SEARCH_RESULTS&action=&title=&artist=Culture%20Beat&format=&debutLP=&category=&sex=&releaseDate=&requestNo=&type=&level=&label=&company=&certificationDate=&awardDescription=&catalogNo=&aSex=&rec_id=&charField=&gold=&platinum=&multiPlat=&level2=&certDate=&album=&id=&after=&before=&startMonth=1&endMonth=1&startYear=1958&endYear=2010&sort=Artist&perPage=25. Retrieved 2010-08-14. 
8. ^ "KATEGORIEN: Künstler/Künstlerin/Gruppe national im Ausland (Best National Artist/Group abroad)" (in German). Echo. 1994. http://www.echopop.de/der_echo/die_preistraeger?eid=12. 
9. ^ "KATEGORIEN:Produzent/in des Jahres national (Best Producer of the Year)" (in German). Echo. 1994. http://www.echopop.de/der_echo/die_preistraeger?eid=12. 
10. ^ "Longplay: Culture Beat Metamorphosos". Musicline.de. http://www.musicline.de/de/chartverfolgung_summary/title/CULTURE+BEAT/Metamorphosis/longplay. Retrieved 2010-08-14. 
11. ^ :|: Biä»Eå U Serviss :|: Ticketservice Latvia :|:
12. ^ "Chartverfolgung/Culture Beat/Longplay". Musicline.de. http://www.musicline.de/de/chartverfolgung_summary/artist/CULTURE+BEAT/?type=longplay. Retrieved 2010-08-14. 
13. ^ "Artist Culture Beat: Australian album-positions to Culture Beat". Hung Medien. http://www.australian-charts.com/search.asp?cat=a&artist=Culture+Beat&artist_search=starts&title=&title_search=starts. Retrieved 2010-08-14. 
14. ^ "Interpret Culture Beat: Austrian album-positions to Culture Beat". Hung Medien. http://www.austriancharts.at/search.asp?cat=a&artist=Culture+Beat&artist_search=starts&title=&title_search=starts. Retrieved 2010-08-14. 
15. ^ "Artist Culture Beat: Finnish album-positions to Culture Beat". Hung Medien. http://www.finnishcharts.com/search.asp?cat=a&artist=Culture+Beat&artist_search=starts&title=&title_search=starts. Retrieved 2010-08-14. 
16. ^ "Artiest Culture Beat: Dutch album-positions to Culture Beat". Hung Medien. http://www.dutchcharts.nl/search.asp?cat=a&artist=Culture+Beat&artist_search=starts&title=&title_search=starts. Retrieved 2010-08-14. 
17. ^ "Artist Culture Beat: Norwegian album-positions to Culture Beat". Hung Medien. http://www.norwegiancharts.com/search.asp?cat=a&artist=Culture+Beat&artist_search=starts&title=&title_search=starts. Retrieved 2010-08-14. 
18. ^ "Artist Culture Beat: Swedish album-positions to Culture Beat". Hung Medien. http://www.swedishcharts.com/search.asp?cat=a&artist=Culture+Beat&artist_search=starts&title=&title_search=starts. Retrieved 2010-08-14. 
19. ^ "Artist Culture Beat: Swiss album-positions to Culture Beat". Hung Medien. http://www.swisscharts.com/search.asp?cat=a&artist=Culture+Beat&artist_search=starts&title=&title_search=starts. Retrieved 2010-08-14. 
20. ^ ^{a b} "Culture Beat (Singles/Albums)". Chartstats.com. http://www.chartstats.com/artistinfo.php?id=5712. Retrieved 2010-08-14. 
21. ^ ^{a b} "Gold & Platin". IFPI (Austria). http://www.ifpi.at/?section=goldplatin. Retrieved 2010-08-14. 
22. ^ "Certifications Albums Or - année 1994". Disque en France. http://www.disqueenfrance.com/fr/pag-259165-CERTIFICATIONS.html?year=1994&type=8. Retrieved 2010-08-14. 
23. ^ "Culture Beat - Serenity". NVPI. http://www.nvpi.nl/nvpi/pagina.asp?pagkey=61112&documentid=1236921&zoekform=60463&formposted=yes. Retrieved 2010-08-14. 
24. ^ "Vuonna myönnetyt kulta- ja platinalevyt: Culture Beat". IFPI (Finland). http://www.ifpi.fi/tilastot/kultalevyt/haku/?q=Culture%20Beat&national=0&type=album. Retrieved 2010-08-14. 
25. ^ ^{a b} "Sweden's certification-database 1987-1998". IFPI (Sweden). http://www.ifpi.se/wp/wp-content/uploads/guld-platina-1987-1998.pdf. Retrieved 2010-08-14. 
26. ^ "AWARDS 1993". IFPI (Switzerland). http://www.swisscharts.com/awards.asp?year=1993. Retrieved 2010-08-14. 
27. ^ ^{a b} "Certified Awards Search: Culture Beat". BPI. http://www.bpi.co.uk/certifiedawards/search.aspx. Retrieved 2010-08-14. 
28. ^ "Charts.de: Culture Beat (Singles)". Charts.de. http://www.charts.de/search.asp?search=Culture+Beat&x=12&y=3&cat=s&country=de. Retrieved 2011-06-09. 
29. ^ "Australia's singles-positions to Culture Beat". Hung Medien. http://www.australian-charts.com/search.asp?cat=s&artist=Culture+Beat&artist_search=starts&title=&title_search=starts. Retrieved 2010-08-14. 
30. ^ "Austria's singles-positions to Culture Beat". Hung Medien. http://www.austriancharts.at/search.asp?cat=s&artist=Culture+Beat&artist_search=starts&title=&title_search=starts. Retrieved 2010-08-14. 
31. ^ "France's singles-positions to Culture Beat". Hung Medien. http://lescharts.com/search.asp?cat=s&artist=Culture+Beat&artist_search=starts&title=&title_search=starts. Retrieved 2010-08-14. 
32. ^ "Norway's singles-positions to Culture Beat". Hung Medien. http://www.norwegiancharts.com/search.asp?cat=s&artist=Culture+Beat&artist_search=starts&title=&title_search=starts. Retrieved 2010-08-14. 
33. ^ "Sweden's singles-positions to Culture Beat". Hung Medien. http://www.swedishcharts.com/search.asp?cat=s&artist=Culture+Beat&artist_search=starts&title=&title_search=starts. Retrieved 2010-08-14. 
34. ^ "Switzerland's singles-positions to Culture Beat". Hung Medien. http://www.swisscharts.com/search.asp?cat=s&artist=Culture+Beat&artist_search=starts&title=&title_search=starts. Retrieved 2010-08-14. 
35. ^ "US singles-positions". billboard magazine. http://www.billboard.com/charts/hot-100#/artist/culture-beat/chart-history/10392. Retrieved 2010-08-14. 
36. ^ "Les Certifications depuis 1973". infodisc.fr. http://www.infodisc.fr/Single_Certif.php. Retrieved 2010-08-14. 
37. ^ "Culture Beat - Mr. Vain". NVPI. http://www.nvpi.nl/nvpi/pagina.asp?pagkey=61112&documentid=1236267&zoekform=60463&formposted=yes. Retrieved 2010-08-14. 
38. ^ "SØK I TROFÉER". IFPI Norway. http://www.ifpi.no/sok/index_trofe.htm. Retrieved 2010-08-14. 

External links

• Culture Beat's Official Website